Excerpt from the OH&S Canada magazine
A Regina-based wood supplier was fined $40,000 for its involvement in an incident that caused the worker several fingers, two years ago in 2015.
According to a September 6, 2017 statement from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety, an employee of Aallcann Wood Suppliers Inc. was removing debris from a with peeler at a worksite near Prince Albert on October 29, 2015, when the machine’s rotating teeth contact at the worker’s hand, severing several of the fingers.
The employer pleaded guilty in Prince Albert Provincial Court to failing to ensure that the machine was locked out for a worker undertook maintenance of it. Three other charges were dropped.
My opinion
Why were there not a set of workplace procedures to deal with this type of issue? Where was the supervisor in all this? If this had been in Ontario, then under the Ontario ‘Industrial’ regulation 851/90, section 42, both subsections 1 and 2 would have been violated. The subsections state,
Section 42,
(1) “The power supply to electrical installations, equipment or conductors shall be disconnected, locked out of service and tagged before any work is done, and while it is being done, on or near live exposed parts of the installations, equipment or conductors.”
(2) “Before beginning the work, each worker shall determine if the requirements of subsection (1) have been complied with.”
Since the employer was obviously not aware of the sections, they were in direct violation of section 25, subsection 1(c) which states,
“An employer shall ensure that,
(c) the measures and procedures prescribed are carried out in the workplace.”
If the supervisor was unaware of the sections then the employer was also in direct violation of section 25, subsection 2 (c) which states,
“An employer shall,
(c) when appointing a supervisor, appoint a competent person.”
As the reader can see, the need to delve into the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and the appropriate regulations.
Lockout/tagout is a very popular section of any of the sector regulations. It is too bad this company didn’t see the need to protect their workers better.
Ensure your workplace is a safe place.
Remember – In Canada, “ALL Accidents are Preventable”
HRS Group Inc. has a great team that can help you with all your health and safety needs including ‘Due Diligence’, ‘Lockout and Tagout’ and ‘Standard Operating Procedures’. Contact Deborah toll free at 1-877-907-7744 or locally at 705-749-1259.
‘Work’ and ‘Play’ safe.
Daniel L. Beal
CHSEP – Advanced Level
VP & Senior Trainer
HRS Group Inc.